Inside the Governors Awards: A night of celebration that calls for change

“This is an anxiety-free zone,” Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences David Rubin said in his introduction to this year’s Governors Awards. “This is a Hollywood party in the best sense.” This proved a hard sentiment to argue with. On Sunday, at the 11th annual special Oscars ceremony — for a variety of lifetime achievements — the Ray Dolby Ballroom of the Hollywood & Highland Center was flooded with the town’s brightest stars. Legends abounded, first and foremost the Governors Award recipients: David Lynch, Geena Davis, Wes Studi, and Lina Wertmüller, artists who’ve contributed to and transformed the medium over decades. But as always, the event also marked a major stop on this year’s campaign trail. Think of a contender for a 2020 Oscar nomination, and they were probably in the room. Read More…